| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: years of the Restoration and did not frequent that temple sacred to
hunger and impecuniosity. There a dinner of three courses, with a
quarter bottle of wine or a bottle of beer, could be had for eighteen
sous; or for twenty-two sous the quarter bottle becomes a bottle.
Flicoteaux, that friend of youth, would beyond a doubt have amassed a
colossal fortune but for a line on his bill of fare, a line which
rival establishments are wont to print in capital letters, thus--BREAD
AT DISCRETION, which, being interpreted, should read "indiscretion."
Flicoteaux has been nursing-father to many an illustrious name.
Verily, the heart of more than one great man ought to wax warm with
innumerable recollections of inexpressible enjoyment at the sight of
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Troll Garden and Selected Stories by Willa Cather: keen curiosity, for this was veritably the work of Flavia's
hands, the materialization of hopes long deferred. They passed
directly into a large, square hall with a gallery on three sides,
studio fashion. This opened at one end into a Dutch breakfast
room, beyond which was the large dining room. At the other end
of the hall was the music room. There was a smoking room, which
one entered through the library behind the staircase. On the
second floor there was the same general arrangement: a square
hall, and, opening from it, the guest chambers, or, as Miss
Broadwood termed them, the "cages."
When Imogen went to her room, the guests had begun to return
The Troll Garden and Selected Stories |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pericles by William Shakespeare: Because we Bid it. Say, is it done?
THALIARD.
My lord,
Tis done.
ANTIOCHUS.
Enough.
[Enter a Messenger.]
Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste.
MESSENGER.
My lord, prlnce Pericles is fled.
[Exit.]
|
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: They fell in single file: first the lackey, Giles, then
Norman of Torn and last the fellow whom he had
addressed as Flory bearing the object covered with a
cloth. But it was not Flory who brought up the rear.
Flory lay dead in the shadow of a great oak within
the camp; a thin wound below his left shoulder blade
marked the spot where a keen dagger had found its
way to his heart, and in his place walked the little grim,
gray, old man, bearing the object covered with a cloth.
But none might know the difference, for the little man
wore the armor of Flory, and his visor was drawn.
The Outlaw of Torn |
